[Dixielandjazz] Leaving is over-rated!

[Ministry of Jazz]

Shalom Steve and Tom, and listmates,

I had a teaching gig up north yesterday and missed most of the controversy.
I am sad to hear that certain nay-sayers have made either of you (or anyone
else) feel that you should leave the DJML. I for one have benefited much
from both of your experience, and your willingness to take a lot of time to
write it out and share it with us on the list. No doubt it is like giving
medicine that doesn't taste good sometimes, but it is all worth hearing.
Maybe there are a few others who are working steadily and have "made it" and
find your posts tiresome, but I don't think they are the ones who are
complaining. For what it's worth, in my opinion it would be our great loss
if you leave the DJML. I hope you will reconsider, damn the torpedoes, and
hang in with us.

Elazar
Dr. Jazz Dixieland Band
Tekiya Trumpet Ensemble
Jerusalem, Israel
www.israel.net/ministry-of-jazz
+972-2-679-2537

P.S. Tom, thank you for the heads up about sending our CDs to the radio
station in Australia. I'm going to do it. I just today am getting some air
time on a station in Sydney who requested a disk and I sent it. A couple
weeks ago a local student station in Jerusalem played our entire 50 minute
disk during a 1-hour show. Then they closed the show with a cut from Woody
Allen's band that was similar in style to ours, and therefore my rag-tag
group of Israeli students and Russians compared favorably to Woody's
professional band. And now the DJ wants to learn banjo from me.

In other news, while my teaching gig in Tiberias is Jewish history and
literature for adults, one of the couples in the class has a 12 year old
daughter who I started on trumpet when she was 8. At the time they bought a
pocket trumpet from me because the little girl was too small to hold up a
full size horn. I met with her before the adult class every other week, for
several months and got her started, and then they found a local Russian
teacher. The gal is now playing in the community orchestra, and last night
they bought a regular trumpet from me since the pocket one looks like a toy
in the orchestra. Her teacher has been pressing her to get a "real" horn,
but we suspect it's because he wants the pocket trumpet. I was so gratified
to listen to her trying out some of her classical and jazz repertoire on the
2 horns I brought for them to choose from. If they didn't live so far away,
I'd have her playing in my trumpet ensemble.


-----Original Message-----
From: Roger Wade [mailto:rwade1947 at comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 3:33 AM
To: Steve barbone; Tom Wiggins
Cc: DJML
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Leaving is over-rated!


Steve, Tom and List Mates,

I just can't let this pass, specially after seeing both Steve and Tom
say they are leaving the list.

First, I rarely post though I've subscribed to the DJML for several
years.  I am a 58-year-old lifelong OKOM fan who shares that
affliction with his 83-year-old father.  I am not a musician.  My
father played drums professionally in Boston before WWII.  He tells
me he was hooked for life after first hearing Bob Crosby's Bob Cats
on a blue label Decca in a used record store in Scollay Square,
Boston at age 14 or 15.

Anyway, though I am not a musician I enjoy and appreciate the insight
into the music business provided regularly by Steve and Tom, and less
often by others.  My youngest son is a singer/songwriter who also
appreciates those messages I forward to him that are of value to any
aspiring musician, OKOM or not.

Steve and Tom write long informative posts, seemingly tirelessly, not
to brag but to share information that may be of value or interest to
other musicans or to people interested in what it takes to succeed in
a very tough business.

Steve and Tom, please note that of all the posts generated by Mike
Vax's unfortunate critical posting, I noticed only two that supported
his views of your contributions.  All of the other posts were
appreciative of the effort you two have put into sharing your
experiences with us.

I noticed some posts that, like mine, were from members who seldom
post.  That should tell you that your leaving the DJML will not be
met with glee by any but a few curmudgeons who apparently interpret
all of your remarks as aimed at them.  Sadly Bob Ringwald, whom I
respect, seemed to agree with the negative posters.  Perhaps he and/
or they were just having a bad day.

So, please don't leave us.  Your contributions are more appreciated
than you know.  Heck, you even brought me out of the shadows to post
on this subject.

Best regards,

Roger Wade
Really Old Records
www.reallyoldrecords.com
Natick, MA, USA
 >>
 >>
On Mar 9, 2006, at 7:03 PM, Steve barbone wrote:

> I have decided to end the controversy.
>
> To those who dislike me, that is YOUR problem.
>
> To those have learned from my posts, I regret that I will no longer
> be of
> any help unless you write me direct. The detractors, small minds
> and their
> ilk on the list make it no longer worth my time.
>
> Don't let the bastards get you down.
>
> Unsubscribing right after this post.
>
>
> Cheers,
> Steve